Housing Officer, Property, South East

Housing Officer, Property, South East

Location: South East - Option of Kilkenny or Waterford base with travel throughout Ireland

Contract: Full-time, Specific Purpose Contract

The purpose of this role is to work closely with local teams to deliver a quality service to our tenants. The job will be based in our local offices working as part of the central property service. Focus Ireland has extensive property and is expanding activity in this area.

What you will do:

• Ensure the organisation's policies and procedures for housing management and maintenance are implemented.
• Ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the Tenancy Agreement, in particular the management of ASB.
• Prepare for and represent the organisation at RTB hearings, where necessary.
• Ensure rent collection is effective as possible across all tenancies.
• Maximise collection by automated means.
• Ensure consistency of rent charges.
• Ensure consistency of non-rent charges such as service charges.
• Proactively manage rent arrears to ensure that they are kept to an agreed minimum.
• Address rent arrears with support of the local Services staff.
• Ensure all voids and vacancies are kept to a minimum.
• Ensure there is a measurable and transparent process for tracking voids.
• Work closely with Services and Local Authorities, where necessary, to ensure the timely allocation of tenants to our properties.
• Ensure the efficient and smooth transition of units from the Development Team to the Property Operations team.
• Ensure the quality of the property portfolio is maintained to a sufficient level.
• Ensure the annual maintenance plan is prepared in line with the 10-year plan.
• Assist in driving an improvement in the level of procurement for all maintenance and demonstrate that we run an efficient and price competitive procurement operation that provides value for money.
• Ensure that robust systems are in place to track and record all maintenance works and to adequately report on same.
• Take ownership of all property management budgets and ensure all maintenance is achieved in line with the agreed budget.
• Ensure the quality of maintenance and repair work is of a high quality including supervising contractors and internal staff when required.
• Ensure customer and tenant satisfaction levels are exceeded.
• Liaise with housing support staff on rent arrears issues with tenants and monitor arrears.
• Conduct periodic inspections of properties and report on condition.
• Assist with tenant induction in responsibility for care of property and provide support in the use of appliances in the home.
• Liaise with management companies, attend management company meetings and manage service charge matters.
• Address all housing health and safety issues including fire audits, electrical tests, and boiler servicing.
• Maintain accurate property records using CRM systems such as Affinity.
• Be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your manager or Health & Safety Representative.

What you will need:

• Extensive experience working in a property/housing management department.
• Ambitious, energetic, and motivated individual.
• Must have a solutions-focused attitude.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• A team player with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills; be trustworthy and conduct the role with integrity.
• Current valid driving licence with access to a car.
• A professional qualification in housing (desirable).
• Experience in working for a voluntary housing organisation (desirable).

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.

We are driven by the fundamental belief that homelessness is wrong. It is a failure of society that creates victims out of ordinary people and robs them of their potential. It can be prevented and solved, yet it continues to undermine society.

Focus Ireland currently employs 435 people in various capacities, including permanent, fixed term, full time, part time, and relief.

We aim to create continuous improvement and add value through partnership, integration, accessibility, and empowerment of all employees.

What we offer:

• Top up Maternity Benefit up to 22 weeks.
• Top up Paternity leave up to 8 days.
• Education Policy - provision of financial support for upskilling/qualifications.
• Paid expenses.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Annual Leave – 25 days.
• Defined Contribution – 5% employee contribution and 7% employer contribution.
• EAP – Employee assistance programme – staff counselling.
• Death in Service benefit – 3 times salary.